Zac Posen / Resort 2014

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As Zac Posen presented his resort collection Tuesday morning, Carole King’s “Beautiful” played over the stereo: “You’ve got to get up every morning with a smile on your face . . . you’re gonna find, yes you will, that you’re beautiful as you feel.” At the risk of sounding corny or overly sentimental, it must be said that these were fitting words. Posen designs for a woman who wants to look pretty, feminine and glamorous on purpose (not hip or effortless or moody). So yes, she might actually be starting the day in a good mood—at least after she’s put on, say, one of Posen’s floral or butterfly-print chiffon pieces.

The collection ranges “from decadent to practical,” Posen explained. The decadent: velvet-cotton pencil skirts embroidered with flowers, hand-painted tulle ruffled tops and, of course, evening dresses—from ball-skirted showstoppers to satin mermaid silhouettes. The practical (at least in Posen’s world): separates such as a stretch silk-tweed coat and a ruched silk blouse, as well as a stretch double-scuba duchesse dress which looked like it would work miracles in the way of figure flattery. Per usual, each piece shows Posen’s love of technique: pintucking, pleating, and all. And you’ll find a mix of structure and softness. “You want support balanced with an ease and blousiness,” he said. “That’s how women dress today.” But back to those ruffles: They are mixed media—tulle and chiffon together at times—and a bit off-kilter or “disorganized,” Posen said. “We haven’t had them in quite a while, but it felt like the right kind of joyous moment to have in the season.” The designer’s positivity is refreshing.